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Best fiber internet provider
Best cable internet provider
Best rural internet provider
Best internet provider for customer care
Best internet provider for value
Searching for the best broadband provider can be daunting if you don't know where to start. That said, we've gathered our top picks of the best internet service providers for December based on pricing, speeds, service terms and connection types. Here's all the details you need to know.
What's the best internet provider overall?
Many factors set one internet provider apart from another. Availability is a major factor, as are connection types, speeds, pricing and service terms like data caps and equipment fees. Plus, a solid customer service record lets us know that customers are in good hands. Only a handful of internet providers meet our expectations across all these categories.
Verizon Fios and AT&T Fiber are two providers that stand out as the best internet service providers overall. Those in the Northeast will have a tough time finding a better ISP than Verizon Fios, while many in the South and Midwest will find AT&T Fiber to be the best. As we often say in our ISP reviews, fiber internet service almost always trumps other internet connection types, so don't hesitate to sign up if you can get fiber internet at your address.
There are times when cable internet, like that of Xfinity, Spectrum and Cox, is a better option. Cable is often a solid choice for cheap internet or if you're interested in bundling internet and TV or internet and mobile. Cable internet also boasts the greatest availability of any non-satellite connection type, often making it the best option if there are no fiber providers in your area.
CNET considers speeds, pricing, customer service and overall value to recommend the best internet service providers across several categories. Our evaluation includes referencing a proprietary database built over years of reviewing internet services. We validate that against provider information by spot-checking local addresses for service availability. We also closely read providers' terms and conditions and, when needed, call ISPs to verify the details.
Despite our efforts to find the most recent and accurate information, our process has some limitations you should know about. Pricing and speed data are variable: Certain addresses may qualify for different service tiers, and monthly costs may vary, even within a city. The best way to identify your particular options is to plug your address into a provider's website.
Also, the prices, speed and other information listed above and in the provider cards below may differ from what we found in our research. The cards display the full range of a provider's pricing and speed across the US, according to our database of plan information provided directly by ISPs. At the same time, the plan charts display the offerings most common to most areas. The prices referenced within this article's text come from our research and include applicable discounts for setting up automatic payments each month -- a standard industry offering. Discounts and promotions might also be available for signing a term contract or bundling multiple services.
To learn more about how we review internet providers, visit our full methodology page.
Best internet service providers in the US
300 - 5,000 Mbps
$55 - $250 per month
Our take - It's not the cheapest internet provider, but in terms of overall value, AT&T Fiber is one of the best. Considering cost-per-Mbps, a good indicator of value, AT&T Fiber is better than most. Free equipment rental, unlimited data and no set price increases add to the provider's overall value.
300 - 5,000 Mbps
$55 - $250 per month
AT&T Fiber plans and prices
| Plan | Starting monthly price | Max speeds | Monthly equipment fee | Data cap | Contract |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AT&T Fiber 300 Read full review | $55 | 300Mbps download and upload | None | None | None |
| AT&T Fiber 500 Read full review | $65 | 500Mbps download and upload | None | None | None |
| AT&T Fiber 1000 Read full review | $80 | 1Gbps download and upload | None | None | None |
| AT&T Fiber 2000 Read full review | $145 | 2Gbps download and upload | None | None | None |
| AT&T Fiber 5000 Read full review | $245 | 5Gbps download and upload | None | None | None |
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Source: CNET analysis of provider data.
500 - 1,000 Mbps
$50 - $80 per month
Our take - Fiber offers the most bang for your buck, but a cable connection is the next best thing if fiber isn't an option. Spectrum is the provider offering cable internet service in the country that I'd be happiest to see available at my address.
500 - 1,000 Mbps
$50 - $80 per month
Spectrum plans and prices
| Plan | Starting monthly price | Max speeds | Monthly equipment fee | Data cap | Contract |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spectrum 500 Internet Read full review | $50 | 300Mbps download, 20Mbps upload | Modem free; $10 for router (optional) | None | None |
| Spectrum Gig Internet Read full review | $70 | 1,000Mbps download, 35Mbps upload | Modem and router free | None | None |
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Source: CNET analysis of provider data.
Fixed wireless
72 - 245 Mbps
$60 per month
Our take - T-Mobile Home Internet has the greatest nationwide coverage of any single internet provider, boasting a 60% availability, according to the latest data from the Federal Communications Commission. That's why we voted T-Mobile as the best rural internet provider of 2024. When you're rurally located, your chances of getting cable or fiber are much lower. To avoid the high costs and traditionally slow speeds of satellite internet, T-Mobile is an excellent alternative.
Fixed wireless
72 - 245 Mbps
$60 per month
T-Mobile Home Internet plans and prices
| Plan | Max speeds | Starting monthly price | Monthly equipment fee | Data cap | Contract |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| T-Mobile Home Internet Read full review | 72-245Mbps download, 15-31Mbps upload | $50 ($30 for eligible Go5G Plus and Magenta Max mobile customers) | None | None | None |
| T-Mobile Home Internet Plus Read full review | 72-245Mbps download, 15-31Mbps upload | $70 ($50 for eligible Go5G Plus and Magenta Max mobile customers | None | None | None |
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Source: CNET analysis of provider data.
300 - 2,000 Mbps
$50 - $120 per month
Our take - Verizon lands near the top of the American Customer Satisfaction Index's rankings of internet providers year after year, and it's been one of the strongest finishers with J.D. Power for multiple years running, too.
300 - 2,000 Mbps
$50 - $120 per month
Verizon Fios plans and prices
| Plan | Max speeds | Starting monthly price | Monthly equipment fee | Data cap | Contract |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fios 300 | 300Mbps download, 300Mbps upload | $50 | None | None | None |
| Fios 500 | 500Mbps download, 500Mbps upload | $75 | None | None | None |
| Fios 1 Gig | 940Mbps download, 880Mbps upload | $90 | None | None | None |
| Fios 2 Gig | 2,300Mbps download, 1,500Mbps upload | $110 | None | None | None |
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Source: CNET analysis of provider data.
100 - 1,200 Mbps
$20 - $95 per month
Our take - WideOpenWest is a relatively small provider that offers services in six states. It earns the exclamation point it likes to stick at the end of its branding by offering cable internet plans at some of the best prices you'll find anywhere in the US. That includes an entry-level 300Mbps plan that starts at $30 per month, reaching all the way up to a high-speed 1,200Mbps plan at $95 monthly. That's a stellar cost per Mbps of just 8 cents, which is unheard of in the cable category. In some areas, for an extra $5 a month, WOW offers price-lock to your chosen plan to protect against sudden price increases.
100 - 1,200 Mbps
$20 - $95 per month
WOW Internet plans and prices
| Plan | Starting monthly price | Max speeds | Monthly equipment fee | Data Cap | Contract |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| WOW Internet 300 Read full review | $30 | 300Mbps download, 20 Mbps upload | None | None | None |
| WOW Internet 600 Read full review | $45 | 600Mbps download, 50 Mbps upload | None | None | None |
| WOW Internet 1 Gig Read full review | $60 | 1,000Mbps download, 50 Mbps upload | None | None | None |
| WOW Internet 1.2 Gigs Read full review | $95 | 1,200Mbps download, 50 Mbps upload | None | None | None |
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Source: CNET analysis of provider data.
Honorable mentions
200 - 8,000 Mbps
$30 - $165 per month
Our take - CenturyLink offers DSL internet plans across 16 states, but roughly half of the coverage map also has access to its sibling company's fiber plans, branded as Quantum Fiber. It's worth noting that speeds and pricing vary slightly by market. Overall, the plans offer decent cost per Mbps, with the entry-level plan starting at $45 monthly for matching upload and download speeds of 200Mbps (22 cents per Mbps), all the way up to $165 a month for 8 gigabits with matching speeds of 8,000Mbps. There are no data caps or contracts with those plans, and, best of all, the ISP offers a price-for-life guarantee, pledging to never raise your rate for as long as you keep your plan.
200 - 8,000 Mbps
$30 - $165 per month
Quantum Fiber plans and prices
| Plan | Starting monthly price | Max speeds | Monthly equipment fee | Data cap | Contract |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Quantum Fiber 200 | $45 | 200Mbps download, 200Mbps upload | None | None | None |
| Quantum Fiber 500 | $50 | 500Mbps download, 500Mbps upload | None | None | None |
| Quantum Fiber 940 | $70 | 940Mbps download, 940Mbps upload | None | None | None |
| Quantum Fiber 2 Gig | $95 | 2,000Mbps download, 1,000Mbps upload | None | None | None |
| Quantum Fiber 3 Gig | $100 | 3,000Mbps download, 3,000Mbps upload | None | None | None |
| Quantum Fiber 8 Gig | $165 | 8,000Mbps download, 3,000Mbps upload | None | None | None |
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Source: CNET analysis of provider data.